Using rotation or a chipping motion, drills enable you to make holes in a variety of materials, and whether you use them professionally or as a DIYer, they make up an essential component of any well-rounded tool kit.

Below are examples of some of the most commonly used drills both in the construction industry, and by those practising DIY at home, along with their most common and appropriate uses:

The drill driver (corded and cordless)

Whether you opt for a corded or cordless version of a power drill, and irrespective of its voltage, brand, or battery size, it will operate by spinning a bit in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. Some versions of a drill driver also have a drill clutch, enabling you when driving screws, to preset the amount of power transferred.

Drill drivers are ideal for the basic drilling of holes into materials such as wood, plastic, and metal, and as you would expect, the power of the drill required, is largely determined by the size of the hole being drilled. If you’re not sure what size hole your particular drill driver is capable of, simply check the manual for guidance.

The hammer drill

Sometimes referred to as a hammer drill driver, this tool is designed in almost the same way as a standard drill, except that it has a mechanism that vibrates a hammer backwards and forwards to chip away at materials such as concrete. You can usually choose the particular mode you want, such as drilling-only, or hammer-drilling, meaning that the hammering mechanism can be disabled as necessary, as with other types of drill drivers.

In the drill world, hammer drills are most versatile of them all, and can be used to drill into a range of materials, from plastic and wood, to metal and masonry.

The rotary hammer

Sometimes known as a combination hammer, these drills are designed for drilling into concrete and are much more robust and powerful than a regular hammer drill. They typically come with a minimum of two modes: hammering with rotation and chipping.

Use a rotary hammer to drill holes in a variety of materials, or to break up materials like asphalt, concrete, masonry or stone.

The impact driver

Although technically not a type of drill, with so many accessories available, an impact driver such as the Bosch GSB 600 new launch, can support spade and twist bits, for example, provided they’re compatible. With a rotating hammer and an anvil mechanism, this particular tool can afford the user a far greater force for turning than a regular drill, and while not as smooth as a standard drill when drilling holes in plastic, wood or metal, it’s more than capable of getting the job done.

Able to drive screws in at a faster pace than a regular drill driver, this is typically used alongside a standard drill to prevent the user from having to switch bits over during a task.

The cordless screwdriver

Because these work in the same way as a drill, they are often included in the same category, despite them not technically being a drill. Instead of a pistol grip, cordless screwdrivers typically have an inline design with less power than a regular drill driver. Spinning the chuck either clockwise or counterclockwise, they are most often used for driving smaller screws as opposed to smaller holes.

These are ideal for use on fasteners that are smaller and more fragile, and are a great replacement for a handheld screwdriver when working in such things as electrical boxes, or when setting switch plates, for example.

If you need to upgrade your drill, or looking for a basic drill to complement your toolkit, you can get everything you need nowadays, by shopping online. Browse from hundreds of different models, and get your power tools delivered right to your doorstep.